San Jose Taiko by Jo

A Red glow permeates throughout the theatre. There is a silence as the room waits anxiously to hear the sound of the drum. The arms of the drummer rise slowly and smoothly from his sides directly above his head. Mallets in hand, the calm movements of his arms show the strict martial arts-like discipline of his body. Against the red screen only the silhouettes of the drummer and his drum are visible. The relatively small size of the drummer to the drum emphasizes the significance of the drum in the drummer’s culture. The audience still patiently awaits in curiosity the sounds of the drum. Without hesitation, the drummer softly, slowly, and smoothly hits the drum’s head with the mallet. Expecting something louder, the audience intently listens for more. The drummer begins a soft, steady rhythm. The low, deep vibrations surround the room, centralizing the focus on the all-embracing drum. The rhythm picks up speed, cutting and syncopating as it gains complexity. The drummer, the drum his instrument, tells a story through the rhythms. With varying strengths behind the blow of the mallet, the story’s emotions flow from the drum as the intensity escalates. History, legend, strength, courage, and bravery all reverberate in the movement of the piece as the audience is entranced in the tale. Classical Japanese patterns intertwined with modern influences of blues, rock, and jazz blend together to create a sound anew. Images and colors dance through minds in the audience as the story builds in greatness. The brilliant costumes of the drummers make the story come to life as the audacity of their movements continue to astonish the audience. Building to climax, the beat is now not only being heard by the audience, but also felt. As the unforgettable show comes to an end, the audience begins to filter out of the theatre with the word taiko resonating in their minds.